Gonadotropin Treatment in Male Infertility

Male hypogonadism is often associated with impaired fertility. In special cases, treatment with gonadotropins can induce, maintain or augment spermatogenesis. Patients responsive to such regimens are men with secondary hypogonadism, lacking gonadotropin secretion due to pituitary disorders or hypothalamic insufficiency. Such diseases may be inherited or acquired. Available substances are recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin (substituting activity of luteinizing hormone). Recommendation based on current research is that treatment should last at least 2 years. Successful induction of spermatogenesis is more likely in men with pituitary disorders than in those lacking hypothalamic GnRH secretion (e.g. patients with Kallman Syndrome).